1-194-057 - National Motor Museum/Heritage Images

Manfred von Brauchitsch driving Mercedes-Benz W25 Grand Prix car, 1934. Mercedes was one of the dominant teams in Grand Prix racing in the 1930s, with their drivers winning the European Championship in 1935, 1937, 1938 and 1939. Von Brauchitsch was one of the most successful drivers of the pre-war era. He entered his first race, a hillclimb in 1929 driving a Mercedes and came first in his class. In 1931 he competed in the Eifel Grand Prix and finished third to his future teammate Rudolf Caracciola and HJ von Morgan. In 1932 he won the Avus Grand Prix. He was invited to join the Mercedes team and became a works driver for them between 1934-1939.